Dear All, Jackie Clark would like to share with you guys her insights in healthy snacks – which I think is really helpful :) Please enjoy this article , and don’t forget to say Hi to Jackie at her inspiring blog:-D

_____________ By Jackie Clark_______________

Healthy snacking is one of the first steps to managing weight and living in good health. Nutrition is the most important factor in a healthy lifestyle. Healthy snacks can help stabilize blood sugar, provide energy, and act as cancer fighting agents.

Cancer treatments can cause unwanted side effects leading to difficulty eating which can cause unwanted weight loss. Side effects such as dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, sore throat and trouble swallowing can decrease the desire to eat, and this can decrease energy rapidly. Medications can also cause increased appetite and weight gain. These healthy snack ideas will keep your energy up, help manage weight, and add nutrition to your diet.

Increasing the protein in your diet can provide much needed energy. Greek Yogurt contains about twice the protein of regular yogurt, and it is easy to consume and digest when having unpleasant side effects. Other healthy snack ideas for protein include smoothies, frozen yogurt, sorbet, instant breakfast drinks, or trail mix. Add nuts like pistachios, or sunflower seeds to your yogurt for extra protein and healthy fats.

If you are undergoing cancer treatment and trying to keep weight on, try healthy snacking as a way to manage weight while still eating nutritiously. Add granola to pudding, custard, and ice cream. Add dried fruit to muffins, bread, or add to trail mix. Try string cheese, cottage cheese or dips made with beans for extra fiber. To reduce fiber intake, try vanilla wafers, ginger snaps, graham crackers, and angel food cake.

According to the American Cancer Society, flaxseed oil has anti-cancer properties. Some research studies have shown evidence that flaxseed prevents the spread of cancer and tumor growth. It is also used for helping constipation, abdominal problems, sore throat, and many other side effects associated with cancer treatments. It can be found in cereals, breakfast bars, multigrain breads, and muffins. Here is a quick and easy recipe that is nutritious for the whole family.

Directions:
Spray muffin pan or use muffin cups
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix the cake mix, pumpkin, and ground flaxseed until evenly blended together.
Pour in muffin cups and bake 15-20 minutes or until cooked in the middle.
Makes approximately 20 to 24 muffins.

Flaxseed has many health benefits for proper nutrition including Omega-3 essential fatty acids, lignans, which have antioxidant qualities, and soluble and insoluble fiber. Flaxseed can be added to almost any healthy recipe. Proper nutrition and healthy snacks can increase your energy and help you feel better no matter your health situation.

Hope you like this blog post shared by Jackie. You can reach her at: jclarkmca@gmail.com.

Moving to California is a BIG project. Living in a NEW area is a bit intimidating. Blending in NEW environment can be challenging. Squeeze exercising into BUSY schedule can be difficult. Yet compared to what I gained , it was nothing. It has been sunnyall day long, with temperature around 75F for almost 3 months. Especially when Maryland is expecting a snowy weekend, and San Jose is full of pleasant sunshine, I feel it totally worth the effort !

Just some snap shot from the beautiful weather:

Weekend has been fun. I have been to the mountains:

San Francisco:

Winery:

Beaches:

For a day trip out in the nature, I always prepare the picnic so I can fully enjoy the scene without worrying about stopping in the city:

Finally….I settled down in my new apt . It was a lot of work! The best thing ever happened to me , as a chef, is that I now have a balcony! (maybe most of you have a large back or front yard :) ) To fully exploit my little balcony :I grow some sweet basil , jalapeno pepper, banana pepper, Arugula , and green onion! can you believe it only take 4 weeks for the basil to grow this big?! It makes me feel I am an expert ! haha:)

Contact: skytree55@gmail.com

Hey Everyone!!! I am Tou Tou. Currently live in California. They say "Cooking is a way to show the appreciation of life". I say, "blogging about cooking is a way to tell the people who love me, that I am living a joyful life".